Post-office furniture.



R. T. BOURN.

7 POST OFFICE FURNITURE. APPLICATION HLED JUNE 2, 1911.

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POST OFFICE FURNITURE.

APPLICATION nuao JUNE 2. 1911.

l ,1 52,274. Patented Aug. 31, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

6M mwmw ROBERT T. BOURN, OF TEMPLETON, MASSACHUSETTS;

POST-OFFICE FURNITURE.

Application filed Junev2, 1911.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, ROBERT T. BoURN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Templeton, county of lVorcester, State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Post-Office Furniture, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawing, is a specification, like characters on the drawing representing like parts.

This invention relates to post-office furniture and especially to so-called routing cases for letter carriers desks. One type of these letter carrier desks which is now more or less commonly used comprises a table above which is a routing case provided with shelves for receiving the mail and wire parti tions for the shelves. In some types of cases,

the wire partitions are secured to the back and the lower edges of 'the partitions are spaced a slight distance above the shelf. In

using routing cases of this construction it is found that when as ngle letter is placed between any two partitlons the letter, especially if a small one, is liable to slip down underneath one of the partitions and thereby be misplaced and also interfere more or less with the placing of the mail in the. adjacent partitions.

One of the objects of my invention is to provide a novel form of partition which will prevent this from happening and will insure. that every letter, card or other p ece of mail is properly held in its own compartment.

Another object of the invention is to" provide a routing case of this nature in which the partitions are provided with extensions on their upper sides which not only serve to hold the mail in proper vertical position, but which also serve as guiding extensions to assist the letter carrier in locating the proper compartment for the insertion of mail.

Other objects of my invention are to provide Specification of Letters Patent:

Serial No. 630,845.

canbearranged forsorting either letter mail or-paperand package mail, thus obviating .the'necessity 'ofusingv a separate table for sorting. the paper and i package mail.

Other objects of my invention are to improve generally post-oflice furniture of this type, all aso will be-=more fully hereinafter described and then pointedwout in the appended claims.

Referringto thedrawings wherein I have shown some embodiments of my invention,

Figure 1 is a front. view. ofaaroueting, case embodying the invention Fig.- 2 is, a vertical section onthe lme. w.w, Fig-1; Fig. 3 is a detail perspective viewof a-portion ofthe table top Fig.4 lS- a-fragmentary perspective VlQW OfOIlG. end of azshelf; Fig. 5 is a section on the line 1 2 ,.Fig. 4:; Fig, 6 is a sectional view of the partition fori the upper shelves; Fig. 7 is a detailofthe shelf back; Fig. 8 shows a modification.

I have shown generally at. 1 a letter-carriers table which may have any suitable or usualconstruction. .Situated above thetable is a routing casewhich:is formedwith the two uprights or side pieces. 2 adapted to support la plurality of shelves3 and 4. The. shelves Sare designed to receive let ter mail: and the shelves 4: are designed-to receive paper or package 'mail. These shelves may be-sustained in-positionin any suitable way, as, for instance, by beingsup-p ported on cleats 5 which .are screwed or otherwise secured to the uprights 2.. The

cleatsv 5 are preferably'screwed in place so that the positionthereofmay be shifted to permit .the shelves to be spaced any desired distance apart. The shelves 3 and 4 are all preferably removably sustained on the cleats so that any. one shelf with its con tents may be readily removed/ The shelves 3 for the letter'mail are divided into (10111- partments-by means of partitions 7 which are formed of wire and are sustained by the back 8 of each shelf. The shelf backs.

8 may be integral with the shelves on may. be made rigid with the uprights 2. In the lat-ter case the partitions willbe sustained independently from the shelves so that when will be withdrawn from the partitions;

As stated above, the partitions 7 are made by bending wire into loops and securing the ends 9 and 10 of the-wire loops in the backs 8 of the shelves.

Patented Aug; 31,1915.

the shelves are removed the mail thereon A routing case with the partitions arranged in this way is illustrated in Patent No. 803,575, November 7, 1905. Where the partitions are as shown in said patent and a single letter or card is placed in the compartment between two adjacent partitions,

; the letter is very likely to slip sidewise on the shelf and slide underneath one of the partitions, especiallyif the letter is a small one,'or if the letter is a large one, it may assume such an inclined position that the.

upper edge thereof will overhang the partition atthe top. In either event the letter obstructs the adjacent compartment more or less, thus interfering with the insertion of mail thereinto.

As stated above one of the objects of my invention is to provide a form of partition which will prevent any piece of mail in any compartment from sliding underneath the partition into the adjacent compartment or from overhanging the partition sufficiently to interfere with the insertion of mail into the adjacent compartment.

formed by bending the wire to form a loop or 'big ht 12 which extends downwardly from the lower side 11 of the partition and which in practice will meet or substantially meet the shelf. This extension 12 may be placed anywhere in the length of the partition where it will accomplish the desired purpose- The upwardly-directed extensions may also-be formed by bending the upper I side 13 of the wire to form the loop or bight on the partition. In Fig. 2 I have shown 14; which extends nearly to the next partition above. sion may be placed in any suitable position one extension situated substantially centrally of the partition and on the shelf below I have shown theextension as situated at the front end of the partition. In either case these extensions prevent the upper edge of any large piece of mail from overhanging the partition to such an extent as to interfere with inserting mail into the adjacent partition. Similarly the downwardly-directed extensions 12 will prevent any piece of mail from sliding under the partition and thus interfering with the insertion of mail into the'adjacent compartment. The advantage of having the upwardly-directed extension This upwardly-directed exten-- 1 1- situated substantially centrally of the partition is that such extension will c0- operate with a letter or card of any length to prevent the latter from overhanging the partition and also that the upper front corner of any card or letter will project beyond the partition so that it can be easily grasped by the carrier in taking down the mail. Furthermore, this upwardly-directed extension llserves as an eye guide to assist the carrier in properly placing the mail in the compartment, for these extensions project' above the ordinary letters or cards and make the division line between successive compartments clear and distinct. Where the extension is on the front end of the partition as shown on the lower shelf in Fig. 2 the eye guide feature of the extension is augmented.

As stated above the shelves 3 are removable. Each shelf is provided at its back edge with a letter stop 16 which projects above the surface of the shelf and against which the letters may be positioned. In order to permit the shelves to be removed without any interference between the letter stop and the downward extension 12 of the partition, I have mounted the partitions so that they are capable of vertical movement. lVhile this vertical movement may be provided for in a variety of ways without departing from my invention, I have herein shown a construction by which the partitions may have a slight rocking movement. This is accomplished by connecting the backs 8 to the partitions so that they can swing or rock. To provide for this I have herein shown the backs S as carried in rocking heads or supports 17 which are pivoted or swiveled to the sides of the routing case. These heads may be channel shape open at one end, as shown in Fig. 7, so that the backs 8 may be dropped into the channels thereof, and each head is provided with a trunnion 18 which is journaled in a recess formed in the side piece 2. A suitable stop 190 is employed for limiting the rocking movement of the head. lVith this construction it will be readily seen that when any shelf is withdrawn the engagement of the back stop 16 with the extensions 17 of the partitions will merely swing the partitions upwardly to permit the back stop to pass out from under the extension, and similarly when the shelf is inserted into place the engagement of the back stop 16 with the extensions will swing the back 8 and partitions upwardly to permit the back stop to pass.

In sorting the mail it is an advantage to have the shelves arranged stair fashion, that is, with each shelf projecting slightly beyond the shelf above, as shown in Fig. 2. The reason for this is that with the shelves arranged as shown when a letter carrier throws a letter or card into a compartment the shelf abovewill not interferewith, the rockingmotion of theletter over the edge of the shelf on whichit is to,be ;received,;

In Fig. 8-I have shown a,,construction;

wherein provision is made for simultanes ously moving theshelves 3 outwardly into their desired posltion. Tl1is,1s accomplished by pivoting the heads, 17; to swing-- mg members 19 that are pivoted at, their upper ends, to theside pieces 2 and by making each shelf back 8 sot-hat it will engage,

the backof the shelf.- With this construction when the swinging members 19 are swung forwardly, as may be done by grasping the partitions for the lower shelf and drawing forwardly thereon, all of the. shelves will be moved forwardly while maintaining the desired positionrelativeto each other. This construction has the ad: vantage that the lower shelf canbeprojected a greater or less distance depending upon the tastes of the carrier who is, using the desk.

The shelves i forthe letter and package.

the wire set into apertures 22 formed in the shelf, and I will preferably make the, partitions solid by filling in the space between the sides of the U with sheet metal 23 which may be soldered, brazed or otherwise secured to the wire. In additionto these partitions I may use skeleton partitions 24L which can conveniently be formed of wire bent into U-shape and inserted into apertures formed in the shelf. The partitions 21 can be placed sufficiently far apart so that the compartments between them will accommodate magazines, laid fiat.

Each shelf is provided atits end with a rest or guard which also constitutes a ban dle by which the shelf can be carried when it is removed from the case. This handle or guard is shown in the form of a wire 25 bent into U-shape and the sides of which occupy grooves 26 formed in the ends of the shelf and the ends of which are bent laterally, as at 27, and occupy grooves 28 formed on the under side of the shelf. Each wire may conveniently be formed at its end with an eye 29 through which a screw may be inserted, thus rigidly fastening. the wire to theshelf. With this construction the wires are located at the extreme end of the shelf so that no space is lost between the wires and the uprights 2. This construction furthermore has suflicient strength so that the wires 25 can be safely used as handles for carrying the shelf when it is loaded with mail matter.

Each shelf will be provided with routing strips .28 as usual indevicesof this character on, which routing. strips the letter-can riers route is outlined. I propose to divide the shelves for the letter mail and the shelves for the paper-and package mail into sections corresponding to sections or blocks onthe.letter-carrier s route and to arrange the spacefor the letter mail and the space for the package mail corresponding to any particular section or block so that they will have; a definite position relative to each other. For instance, the spaces on the upper. shelf lfor the paper and package mail correspond tothe same portion of the route as the upper shelf 8 for the letter mail, and, therefore, whena carrier has a letter and a paper both of which belong to the same address he will place the letter mail in the proper position on the proper shelf and the paper or package is placed in a corresponding position. on the corresponding shelf.

This block system arrangement for the two sets of shelves is of great advantage because it facilitates the sorting of the mail and also the delivery of the mail from the routing case at nights or on holidays.

Another feature of my invention relates to an extensible top for the table 1 by means of which suflicient room on the table may be.

provided for the sorting of the paper, package and other large mail. This top extension is formed by making the table top in two sections 30 and 31. The section 30 is fixed and the section 31 is a sliding section which slides under the section 30 and can be drawn out therefrom as indicated in clotted lines Fig. 2. W hen it is drawn out a greatly increased table surface is provided without increasing the floor space which the table occupies. I have provided a felt strip 32 which is secured to the front of the top section 30 andwhich contacts with the extensible section 31 and which prevents letters or cards from slipping in between the two top sections 30 and 31. This felt strip is secured to the front edge of the section 30 by a clamping strip 34 which is held in place by screws 35. The table top extension 31 is provided with the arms or end pieces 36 so that when said top extension is drawn outwardly into the dotted line position Fig.

2 the arms 36 constitute extensions of the 1 the table top is drawn outwardly the mail receptacle 89 .will be moved outwardly with it and will thusbe always accessible. These mail receptacles are commonly used to receive mail from the jug or distributing cases? and the carrier may sort the mail from the receptacle or may empty said receptacle ontothe-table.

Having fully described my invention, what I-claini as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. A routing case for letter carriers comprising shelves and partitions supported independently from the shelves and dividing each shelf into compartments, each partition having its lower edge spaced from the shelf and provided with a downwardlydirected extension to prevent letters from sliding under the partition.

2.- In a'routing case for letter carriers, the

combination with a plurality of shelves each provided with a shelf back, of partitions supported by each back and having the lower edge thereof spaced from the shelf,

each partition being formed with a downwardly-directed extension to prevent letters from sliding laterally under the partition.

-3. In a routing case, the combination with superposed shelves, of partitions dividing the shelves .into compartments, each partition having at its upper edge near its front end an upwardly-directed letter-positioning. extension which extends substantially to the spaced from the shelf, each partition being formed with a downwardly-directed extension toprevent' letters from sliding laterally under the partition and also being provided .45

with an upwardly-directed letter-positioning extension. V

5. In a routing case for letter-carriers, the combination with a frame, of shelves removably sustained thereby and each provided with a back stop, and partitions for the shelve's'movable vertically relative thereto. 7

6.- In a routing case, the combination with a frame, of shelves removably sustained thereby, each shelf having a backstop, vertically-movable partitions for each shelf,

each partition having a downwardly-directed extension.

7. In a routing case, the combination with a frame, ofa plurality of shelves removably sustained thereby, each shelf having a back stop, a rocking shelf back for each shelf, and partitions sustained by each shelf back.

8. In post-ofiice furniture, the combination with a table having a top made in two sections, one of which is fixed and the other of which is extensible, said extensible sectionsliding under the fixed section and when in fully retracted position extending beyond the fixed section a considerable distance and forming therewith the normal working top of the table, means to limit the rearward movement of the extensible section, and a routing case situated above the table.

9. In post-ofiice furniture, the combination with a table, of a routing case sustained above the table, said table having a fixed top section and an extensible top section slidably mounted to move underneath the fixed section, and when in retracted position extending beyond the fixed section and forming therewith the working top of the table, and a felt strip secured to the front edge of the fixed section and engaging the extensible section to prevent letters from slipping between the sections. 7 10.- In a routing case,the combination with a plurality of shelves, of partitions therefor each comprising a wire bent into substantially U-shape, and a filling piece filling the U portion of the wire the ends of the wire projecting below the lower edge of the filling piece.

11. Inrpost-oifice furniture, the combination with a frame, of a plurality of shelves detachably sustained thereby, each shelf having at its end a combined handle and end rest of sufficient strength to permit a loaded shelf to be supported therbey.

12. In a routing case, the combination with a frame, of shelves removably sustained thereby, each shelf having at its end a wire bent into U-shape, the sides of which occupy ROBERT T. BOURN.

Witnesses:

LoUIs C. SMITH, Ti-IoMAs J. DRUMMOND.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

' Washington, D. C. 

